Steam: Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition on Steam
Premise:
Long, long ago, the elven sorcerers cast a spell to save the floating world of Ara Fell from destruction. Instead, they doomed it to fall from the sky. By chance, the fate of the world has been placed in the hands of a young woman. Join her as she and her friends endeavor against all odds to save their homeland, all while the clock ticks ever nearer the final hour.
Good:
- It’s a 2D Western RPG inspired by JRPGs. Often times, I see contempt from Western devs when they try to create JRPG-styled games. The contempt isn’t obvious; rather, it’s evident only in how they deliver their own work. Ara Fell’s delivery lacks that contempt. It proudly wears its JRPG influences on its sleeves. The campy humor, the cozy sprite-work etc., it’s all there.
- Fantastic art direction complemented by amazing sprite work.
- Good story. It’s not the Ulster Cycle; it’s a clichéd JRPG narrative. What makes it stand out is how well it’s delivered. The game balances campy JRPG humor with serious moments, adjusting its tone appropriately—much like the JRPGs it draws its influences from.
- A well-crafted world. The JRPG staples—from lush green forests and beautifully barren deserts to mesmerizingly cold caverns, it’s all there.
- A simple and enjoyable character progression system.
- Fun turn-based combat. The system isn’t super deep, but it’s pretty fun.
- Short. The game took me about 30 hours because I kept dicking around.
Neutral/Bad:
- Great OSTs. There are only a couple of tracks, and they do get used rather wisely for the most part, but in some areas you do wish that they had more unique tracks.
My Thoughts:
I picked this game up from my backlog because I couldn’t concentrate on anything heavy (I had to pause Arcanum despite being almost done with it.). I was pleasantly surprised by it. One of the better games that I have played in recent times. Would 100% recommend it.